by Matt Waheibi

As most teams wrap their fall season, we take notice who has work to do over the winter and the rising stars to watch out for.

Read the full recap below:

Thursday, November 21st

Richmond County FC vs Stal Mielec NY (1-1)

Richmond County FC tied against Stal Mielec NY in McCarren Park on Thursday night. This is Richmond’s second tie of the season, their first was at their only other game in McCarren park against NY Ukrainians.

Sunday, November 24th

Polonia Gwardia NY vs Manhattan Celtic (1-0)

In Manhattan Celtic’s last game of the fall season, they fall short to Polonia Gwardia.

The lone goal and what could be the goal of the season was taken from the Polonia half, just behind the halfway line.

Celtic Head Coach, Matthew Kane says the team played poorly and couldn’t lift our game in any way. “We deservedly lost but will look to strengthen this winter and hopefully push on and win the league” Kane adds.

Celtic stay at the top of the standings by goal differential (26).

Kelmendi FC NY vs Manhattan Kickers (4-2)

Defensive errors, goalkeeping mistakes and unmarked forwards is how Kelmendi FC NY walked away from Sunday’s game with a win.

In the 18th minute, Kickers’ Gonzalo Trovato opened up the scoring on a set piece placing the just out of reach of Kelmendi’s keepers’ hands.

Kickers’ inability to create a rhythm of simple passes would lead to a 35th minute defensive error. Kickers’ Diego Soto lost control of the ball in the Kickers’ half that gave Kelmendi the opportunity to make with three quick passes and a shot. Kelmendi’s strike took a deflection off the hand of Khriswayne Wallace who was in the box which gave Kelmendi a penalty kick and opened up their scoring and to make it 1-1.

Second half for kickers got off to a terrible start and it never got better. A dreadful pass in the midfield was intercepted by Kelmendi then launched forward to the lone striker who then chipped it over Kickers’ keeper, Mo to put Kelmendi ahead, 2-1 just one minute into the second half.

A corner would do it again for Kelmendi as Kickers fail to clear the bending corner and Kelmendi net it with a low and fast strike, 3-1. Kelmendi’s last goal comes off another corner and a header makes the connection, 4-1.

Kickers recorded numerous shots but nothing to put the Kelmendi’s keeper on their toes. Kickers’ final goal was off a set piece taken by Mathias Jorge—while on target, they can be thankful for Kelmendi’s keeper who struggled to get a good handle on the ball.

Both Kelmendi and Kickers have one game each before they call it a wrap on the fall season. If Kickers continue to expose their weaknesses, you can expect Kelmendi to replace them in the hunt for the playoffs.

Beyond FC vs Hoboken FC 1912 (1-3)

Keeping the title race alive, Hoboken FC claim their sixth win in a row against Beyond FC.

Early in the first half, Hoboken’s number nine, Kevin Halliday collected an awful clearance from the Beyond keeper and found Geoff Ruin for the one-time finish from outside the eighteen. Hoboken’s Sam Omosuyi added two more goals for Hoboken to finish the half, 3-0.

The only entertainment the second half saw was the Beyond penalty kick to end the game 3-1 and crush the hopes of a third shut out for Hoboken’s keeper, Tyler Poggs

If Hoboken keep the pace alive come spring, they could take the top spot in the D2 standings.

NY Ukrainians vs Afghan FC NY (1-3)

My favorite stat continues to live on for Afghan FC NY. The away side gets their second win in a row and continue the streak (for the ninth game in a row) that no matter who the away team is in their matchup, the away side will be the ones to walk away with the win. Amazing.

A corner kick from Diego Gonzalaz made the connection to Adam Maliniak for the one-time finish and NY Ukrainians would get on the score sheet first and to end the first half, 1-0.

Whatever speech Afghan FC coach, Mohammad Mashriqi gave to his team during halftime definitely worked. Afghan FC would score three unanswered goals in the second half and to end their fall term on a positive note.

Afghan FC move into seventh in the standings and if their “away team wins” stat stays alive in the spring, they’ll only have two wins to record and move back down below tenth place.

FC Ulqini vs Williamsburg International FC (4-1)

Neither FC Ulqini nor Williamsburg International have won a game since September. A win for either team here was critical—FC Ulqini showed they wanted it more.

Williamsburg International face Manhattan Kickers next to finish their fall season. A representitive from Williamsburg said, “This will be WIFC’s chance to end an uncharacteristically unsuccessful fall season on a positive note.”

Richmond County FC vs Real Ole FC (5-0)

Richmond County FC tucked five away against Real Ole in their second game within three days. They now lead the division with the most goals scored at 33, just one more than division leaders, Manhattan Celtic. David Folvarsky, John Gurel, Luis Kaba, Jonard Kadriu and Philip Szumanski all got on the score sheet for Richmond.

This is Real Ole’s second loss in a row losing both games 5-0 putting them in third for most goals scored against them.

Stal Mielec NY vs NYPD FC (2-2)

No game information was provided by either team.

Central Park Rangers FC vs FC Japan (5-4)

After two tough shut out losses this month, Central Park Rangers see the light at the end of the tunnel and walk away with a win to finish their fall campaign.

Central Park Rangers started the game going against the wind both literally and figuratively. A large number of their starting eleven were out due to injuries which required the reserves to fill the gaps. FC Japan took control of the first half and walked into halftime ahead, 2-1 but the second half would become a Rangers’ game. Rangers’ would take the lead after midfielder, Clint Dunn records a hat-trick on the score sheet.

Player-coach Mike Carducci made an amazing top corner save in the last minute to seal Rangers’ win after a challenging fall season.

FC Japan goal scorers Mitshuiko Konoue, Issei Mitsui, Ken Mochizuki and Shogo Yamamoto did astonishing work but not enough to top Central Park Rangers. They and the rest of FC Japan get one more chance to end the fall season with a win as they play Kelmendi FC NY in a make up game on Sunday, December 15th.